Automatic stirrup-detacher.



No. 734,960. PATENTED JULY 28, 1903. H. B. K. ROSENFELD.

AUTOMATIC-STIRRUP DETACHER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s. 1902.

witnesses Nv @9%5 UNITED STATES Patented .Tuly 28, 1903.

PATENTV OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC STIRRUKP-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,960, dated July 28,1903.

Application led November 8, 1902. Serial No. 130,609. (No model.)

To all whom, it m/ty/ con/cern:

Be it known that I, HANS B. KURT ROSEN- FELD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in AutomaticStirrup-Detachers, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an automatic stirrup-detacher forinterposition between the stirrup-strap usually employed in connectionwith a saddle and a hanger-strap attached to the stirrup; and the objectin view is to provide means which will reliably operate to retain astirrup in connected relation to a stirrup-strap of a saddle undernormal conditions, but will automatically release the stirrup whenabnormal strains or irregular pull is exerted on the stirrup, andthereby avert accidents to riders when thrown or in cases of runaways.

' The invention consists in the construction and arrangement ot theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion ot' astirrup-strap, a hangerstrap for a stirrup, and a part of the latter,showing the improved detacher in operative relation thereto. Fig. 2 isan elevation of the improved detacher, shown broken away in part toillustrate the detail construction and the closure of the frame open indotted lines.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the views.

The numeral 1 designates a stirrup-strap of the form usually attached toa saddle, 2 a stirrup-hanger, and 3 a stirrup. These parts are of usualconstruction, and the difference in the ordinary means of attaching astirrup consists in interposing the hanger 2 instead ofsecuring thestirrup 3 directlyto the-strap 1.

The improved detacher comprises a frame 4, having an inner side bar 5and an upper suspending-bar 6, which has its under side slightly roundedto reduce wear on the strap 1, which engages the same. The frame 4 alsohas a bottom bar '7 of considerable vertical extent, which is cut awayat its inner extremity to form a clearance-slot 8, the lower part of theside bar 5 being curved and projected inwardly to practically assist inthe formation of the slot S. The outer end of the suspending-bar 6 has adepending enlargement 9, from which a projection 10 extends outwardly toengage a slot 11 in the upper end of a closing-bar 12, hinged atitslower end to the outer end of the bottom bar 7, the upper walls of theslot 11 and the projection 10 being beveled downwardly to permit theclosing-bar 12 to readily clear itself when opened in a manner whichwill be hereinafter eX- plained. To hold the closing-bar 12 againstaccidental opening movement under normal conditions, a plate-spring 13,securedto the e lower end of the bottom bar 7, engages the lower hingedend of said bar 12, the inner corner of the latter bar being cut away atits lower end, as at 14, to permit it to be thrown outwardly withoutobstruction.

A keeper 15 is movably mounted on the upper edge of the bottom bar 7 andcomprises a lower bar 16, havingl an upper slot 17, over the greaterportion of which a rigid closing-bar 18 immovably extends. The bar lisformed with an ear 19 adjacent its inner end to movably iit into a slot2O at the inner extremity of the bottom bar 7, close to theclearanceslot- 8, and through the said ear and bottom bar a pivot-pin2lis passed to permit the keeper to be thrown inwardly and elevate theouter end thereof in such manner as to permit the ready release of thehanger-strap 2, which is normally held thereby. That part of the slot 17in the bar 16 of the keeper which is not closed by the bar 1S is coveredby the freeextremity of a flat spring 22, having its outer free endupturned, as at 23, to avoid the formation of an injuring or cuttingprojection. The spring 21 extends under and close to the bar 1S and issecured to the innerv vextremity of the bar 16.

As before indicated, the improved detacher is applied by passing thestirrup-strap 1 from the saddle around the suspending-bar 6. Theclosing-bar 12 is opened and the hanger-strap 2 is inserted in the frame5 and pressed under the outer end of the spring 2l into the slot 17. Thestrap 2 is doubled, and therefore passes over the front and rear side ofthe bottom bar 7. After the hanger-strap 2 is inserted in place, asstated, the bar 12 is closed, and the detacher will be then regularlyap- IOO l plied in operative position.

The tension of the foot of the rider on the stirrup will hold the keeperdepressed and in close relation to the upper edge of the bottom bar 7,and under normal conditions,or as long as the hangerstrap 2 is inengagement with the keeper 15, the closing-bar 12 will remain in normalposition, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. When, however,outward pull of an irregular nature is exerted on the hanger-strap 2,the keeper 15 will be thrown upwardly, so that its inner extremity willmove downwardly into the slot 8 and its upper extremity will be free forthe outward withd rawal therefrom of the said hanger-strap. The strapbeing disengaged from the keeper and striking the bar 12 will open thelatter and permit the strap to be detached from the frame 4- and releasethe rider, and thereby avert accident or injury. It will be seen thatthe keeper maintains the hanger-strap 2 and stirrup 3 in proper positionand prevents the said strap from having too loose movement or irregularlocation in the frame 5, and by providing the clearance-slot S the frame4 can be materialiy reduced in its dimensions, particularly in avertical direction.

The improved device will be suitably ornamented by plating, and it isproposed to construct the same of metal to make it strong and durable.

Changes in the details of construction can also be made Withoutdepartiugfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully vdescribed the invention, what is claimed as newis- 1. A detacher of the class set forth, comprising a frame having akeeper movably mounted therein and an outer hinged closingbar combinedwith a stirrup-strap engaging the upper part of the detacher, and astirrup-hanger normally engaging said keeper.

2. A stirrup-detacher of the class set forth, comprising a frame havingan upper suspending-bar, a bottom bar, and inner and outer bars, theouter barbeing hinged at its lower end to the bottom bar, ,a keeperlnovably attached to the bottom bar and normally resting on the upperedge of the latter, and a stirrup-strap and stirrup-hanger respectivelyengaging the upper bar on the frame and the said keeper.

3. A detacher of the class set forth, comprising a frame with an outerhinged closingbar, and a keeper hinged to the lower part of the frameand located'within the latter and having an upper slot with aspring-closure.

4. A detacher of the class set forth, comprising a frame having an outerclosing-bar hinged at its lower end, a bottom bar, and top and innerside bars, and a keeper hinged to the bottom bar and normally resting onthe upper edge of the latter and having a slot in the upper portionthereof.

5. A detacher of the class set forth, comprising a frame having an uppersuspendingbar, inner and outer side bars and a bottom bar, the outerside bar being hinged at its lower end to the bottom bar, aclearance-slot being formed between a portion of the bottom bar and theinner side bar, and a keeper hinged at its inner end to the upperportion of the bottom bar and having a slot in its upper portion closedby a resilient device.

6. A detacher of the class set forth, comprising a frame with an outerhinged closingbar, and a keeper independent of the closingbar andmounted within the frame, said keeper being movably attached at itsinner end whereby it may be thrown upwardly Within the frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

H. B. KURT ROSENFELD.

Witnesses:

THOMAS H. TOPPING, WILLIAM JONES.

